Improvement in bee-hives



WILLIAM H ROBERT-S. Improvement in Bee-Hives.

Patented Iune18,1872.

MNO. I28,070.

lf-fig.

[hwg/albi:

-/THOGHAFHIC $0.17, Y. (05317111755 FRCSS/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTS, OF CAMPBELLS STATION, TllNESSEE.l

IMPROVEMENT, IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification describing a Bee-Hive, invented by WM. H. ROBERTS, ofOampbells Station, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee.

My invention relates to an improved mothmiller trap 5 and consists in the arrangement of passages in the front and base ofthe hive, as hereinafter described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the base and lower portion of a hive provided with my improvements, and Figs. 2 and 3 cross-sections of the same on the lines .r and y, respectively.

A indicates the body or box portion of the hive, which I propose to construct and provide with comb-frames after the most approved mode. B is the base portion of the hive, on which the box A is secured in theusual or any preferred way. The true bee-entrance a is represented closed by a vertical slide, b. An opening, c, is made in the base-board G of the hive at the entrance, and a tin plate, e, is secured in such a manner as to cover it, but raised at its front edge to allow the light to enter. Thus, if the moth-miller attempts to enter the hive by the main entrance, the light through the hole c attracts it and it passes down into the drawer D. Two side entrances, ff, are provided, and closed by slides g g, (one of which is shown open.) By this arrangement, if the miller approaches the bee-entrance from one side it will find its way into the drawer by way of these passages f f.

To entrap the miller when approaching the entrance by descending the front side of the hive, I form a semicircular groove, h, over said entrance and arrange the plate t' to form one side or wall thereof. When the miller, in its descent, reaches this groove it follows it down into the passages f f and thence into the drawer, as before. I employ a perforated plate or wire screen (not shown) to cover an opening in the center of the bottom board of the hive, and thus allow the droppings or other lth of the hive to accumulate inthe drawer. In this the miller will lay its eggs, which, being done, it naturally seeks to escape. Owing to the fact that the openings c and ff in the bottom board are made narrow and long instead of round, as usual heretofore, the admission of light is not sufficient to attract the miller in that direction. The opening in the frontof thedrawer.

D is provided with a perforated plate or wire screen and a box, E, having-a rear entrance formed by inclined plates lc, and open on its front side, is placed in the drawer contiguous to said plate. The moth, finding its Way into the body of the drawer, will be attracted by the light and enter the box E, thus becoming entrapped. Y

To destroy or kill the millers thus caught, it is only necessary to applyaflame to the perforated plate, and then lift up or remove the prison-box itself, when they may be instantly ejected by turning it upside-down, the front side, as above remarked, being open for the purpose. Thus it is not necessary to remove a whole drawer, as in the case of other analogous miller-traps.

What I claim, is-

The arrangement of the passages f f and groove h with the main entrance, as set forth.

WM. H. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

J oHN A. ROBERTS, ZEPHANIAH DAVIS. 

